"They're just going to talk with you. That's all."

"It'll probably only last an hour."

"You'll be fine."

"Please, at least give it a try, brother."

"They'll be very nice. It's just a therapist. They're here to help you."

Garmadon swallowed nervously, walking down the hall of the monastery. He didn't want therapy.

He was fine. He—

"Are you sure? What? What does that have to do with anything?"

Garmadon paused, listening.

"Excuse me…? No. That isn't even ethical!"

He stared at the half-cracked door where Misako's voice was coming from. He…was pretty sure it was her bedroom. He'd gotten better at knowing which rooms were which. It sounded like she was having a one-sided conversation with someone…or was most likely on the phone. That would make more sense.

"You can't just exclude—oh, never mind!"

Garmadon heard—or at least he assumed—Misako hang up.

She sighed. "I don't know what to do…no one will take him."

"Maybe we could call Dr. Clifford? The psychiatrist?" Wu said.

Wu was in there too? He frowned.

"No. I don't think he would be able to help…well…maybe, I suppose. But no one will take Garmadon because of everything he's done. They're terrified of him, or think he's too 'evil'. It's ridiculous!"

Garmadon bit his lip, stiffening.

"Someone will. I think you should keep calling different therapists."

Therapists…? They…they were trying to help him. Again. His heart sank, a heavy weight pushing down on him. Guilt stabbed at him sharply. They shouldn't have to do this. Especially not for him. Why didn't they just give up? He wasn't worth it. He couldn't be helped anyway.

It had to stop.

"I'll keep calling…" Misako sighed. "Maybe—"

Garmadon slid the door open the rest of the way. "No."

Misako and Wu both started, looking at him. Misako held her phone, and they both stood in the middle of a small room. Papers were in neat piles in various places, and a stack of books lay on the desk. A bed lay on one side of the wall in the corner, and a bookcase was on the other side of the room. There was a small window.

Garmadon bit his lip. "I…I don't need therapy. I'm fine. You don't have to keep looking. You're wasting your time anyway."

"We are not wasting our time. I'm going to keep trying." Misako shook her head.

"But it's not worth it."

"It is too. You need it."

"But—"

"I'm not giving up."

He bit his lip.

"It'll be alright. I'll find someone."

"I—" He stopped himself from arguing. He didn't want therapy…but he wouldn't be able to change her mind.

Misako went back to looking for therapists.

Garmadon hesitated, then left. His heart beat faster in his chest, fear coming in waves. He didn't want therapy. He didn't like that Misako and Wu were so…desperate? to help him. He shuddered, wondering what therapy would even be like.

He knew it wouldn't help, though. Ichor had left him with permanent scars, the kind that molded you and never healed.

"I'm not giving up."

He frowned, Misako's words echoing in his head. He'd thought only Wu cared. Maybe Lloyd did too. And…now Misako.

Why?

"Garmadon?"

He jumped, looking up.

Misako and Wu had just come into the living room. Misako held her phone in one hand.

Garmadon stood uneasily from the couch. Maybe they hadn't found someone? Maybe he wouldn't get therapy. Maybe they'd changed their minds. Maybe they had given up—it had been a couple hours. He stroked Ochre's head nervously. "What is it…?"

"I found someone." Misako smiled. "It took a while, but I finally managed to find you a therapist."

He frowned, the blood draining from his face. His heartbeat quickened. "But I don't need therapy."

"I'm sorry, brother, but we think you do." Wu shook his head. "We don't know how to help you. This therapist will."

"His name is Phil Thomas," Misako said. "He works at the Ninjago Mental Health Center, in the city."

Garmadon frowned. "I thought you said no one wanted to help me because of what I've done? That they're all scared of me and believe I'm evil, and hate me?"

"Most…yes. But I did find someone who's willing to help you. He's a good therapist, too."

As good as Ichor? He bit his lip. "But…but who would even want to help me? And why? Are you sure he won't—" He cut himself off. Won't torture me? Won't think I'm hopeless? Won't give up? Won't say I deserve everything that's happened to me?

Wu patted his shoulder.

Garmadon tensed, looking to the floor.

"We want to help you, brother. And this therapist does too. It will be alright. We just want you to feel better."

He didn't reply. He wasn't sure he believed him. This therapist may claim to want to help him…but he was probably getting paid extra to do it. "When…will this 'therapy' start?"

"Your first appointment is tomorrow morning."

He bit his lip, his stomach twisting. Tomorrow? This couldn't end well.

No one wanted to help him. Other than Wu and Misako. Which meant he didn't trust this "therapist" one bit.